Trustworthy management for your life savings.

Did you know there are generally accepted “safe” distribution levels that can be applied to portfolios? The determining factors include one’s age, life-expectancy, inflation, interest rates, portfolio allocation, and investment strategy.

Understanding YOUR goals is key to success. One of the first things to identify is YOUR cash flow needs. If cash is required to subsidize one’s lifestyle, we find it prudent to set funds aside to satisfy those obligations. This not only provides a source of needed cash flow but also allows investors to position the remaining portion of their portfolio toward potential capital appreciation – if appropriate. Knowing adequate cash is available over specific time periods, should alleviate some of YOUR financial concerns.

YOUR goals and objectives beyond cash requirements need to be considered. What are YOUR assets to do for YOU? What do YOU wish to accomplish? How much risk are YOU comfortable taking? How does one identify and measure risk? Are potential returns commensurate with the risk taken?

When it comes to capital appreciation, we believe asset allocation and diversification are key to potential long-term success. By blending different types of investments together, one can potentially lower risk and possibly increase performance. This can be thought of as a practical way of not placing all of one’s eggs in one basket.

After a diversified allocation is agreed upon, we will work together to determine which investment strategies might be implemented to align with YOUR wishes most closely.

It has been said the average American spends more time researching for a vacation than they do planning for their assets after death. It seems few enjoy contemplating death. Perhaps that is why investors often delay needed planning to help ensure their estate plan is designed to fulfill their financial legacy. We can assist YOU in determining if YOUR holdings and types of assets might need more significant planning techniques and tools. As a result, a review by an attorney who specializes in estate planning may be needed. YOU can use your own trusted legal and tax professionals, or we can introduce YOU to one in our network. Trust creation and usage might be appropriate in helping with estate planning. Trusts sometimes help achieve specific goals such as ease of probate, protection from creditors, ease of successor trustees in the case of death or incapacity, and influence on future generations to fulfill YOUR wishes.

Whether in an acquiring, growing, or distributing phase of retirement assets, it is prudent to have a plan. Sometimes investors are surprised to learn of the amounts needed to subsidize living expenses in retirement. Some may want more cash flow than a portfolio can safely provide. Others at times seem reluctant to live to the full extent their assets could provide. We are here to help YOU in analyzing, planning, and implementing strategies to help YOU make the most of retirement. Whether contemplating how much to set aside, what to do with current retirement assets, or attempting to optimize plans with current retirement assets, we are here to assist YOU in evaluating strategies and alternatives.

YOU’VE likely heard the old saying “It’s not about what YOU make, it’s about what YOU keep.” We believe it better stated: “It’s about both - what YOU make and what YOU keep.” Different investments, types of accounts, various strategies, and holding-periods can all impact investment returns and taxation. Each of these areas needs to be considered when working toward tax optimization. Together, along with YOUR CPA and tax advisors, we can assist YOU in evaluating and implementing strategies that have the potential to lessen YOUR tax burden, while adhering to YOUR primary goals and wishes.

Acceptable risk tolerance can be rather subjective and perhaps even initially difficult for an investor to communicate. After all, risk tolerance seems to be viewed from the eye of the beholder. By asking thoughtful questions, we attempt to gain a keen understanding of YOU and YOUR level of acceptable risk. With ongoing communication, levels of tolerable risk to an investor can increase or decrease over time. One’s risk tolerance might evolve over time due to investor preference, outlook of the economy and markets, or due to changes in one’s personal situation. We strive to understand the level of risk YOU are wishing to take. Without a good understanding, some investors might take on more risk within their portfolio than desired. Others might jeopardize meeting their growth objectives due to a fear of the unknown. Some might even take risk without a commensurate level of potential return. Although there are metrics one can use to assess risk within investment strategies, it takes a combination of both art and science to hopefully achieve the appropriate level of risk within a portfolio.

Sometimes it might initially seem that risk is one dimensional. In reality, risk can be measured in various ways. Volatility of one’s portfolio, loss of capital, outliving one’s savings, needing capital from one’s portfolio at an inopportune time, or the likelihood of liquidating positions in one’s portfolio after pullbacks, each represent various risk factors. Our goal is to understand YOU and YOUR risk preference and to build a plan that potentially matches YOUR wishes.

Investors, business leaders, and attorneys often benefit from outside, impartial perspective and advice. Whatever specific business one leads, or the business of one’s investment portfolio, we enjoy working side-by-side with entrepreneurs, corporate leaders, attorneys, retirees, and investors as they navigate through various business decisions. Through our years of experience and understanding of general business dealings, we are here to serve as a sounding board and confidant to YOU when in need of confidential discussions, feedback, thought provoking questions, and advice.

How much does it cost to have an education? Perhaps an even more important question is how much does it cost to not have an education? We help investors like YOU analyze the financial costs of educating those important to YOU. What is the cost? How much needs to be set aside to likely cover those costs? What strategies and vehicles can help fulfill education costs? There are several factors that can influence the cost of education. We are here to help YOU consider plans and strategies to likely fulfill YOUR education goals for YOU and those YOU love.